Page 110 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 10 -13

sea if there is a proper crew. The Commissioner: Well ask him that question. 13369. (Mr. Scanlan.) Yes, my Lord. (To the Witness.) In your experience can a lifeboat be kept afloat in a heavy sea if she is properly manned and provisioned? - Yes, as long as she is not overloaded with too many passengers. What would you consider a sufficient crew for a lifeboat? The Commissioner: Would not that depend on the size of the lifeboat? 13370. (Mr. Scanlan - To the Witness.) For a lifeboat of the size of the boats you had on the “Titanic”? - To go away to rescue any people from another ship in distress you want between eight and ten men in the lifeboat. 13371. (The Commissioner.) I suppose if you put eight or ten men in the lifeboat to man it you could take fewer passengers? - You could take from 30 to 40. 13372. But I suppose if you only took a crew of three or four you could then take more passengers? - Oh, yes. 13373. (Mr. Scanlan.) Could three or four by any possibility manage a lifeboat in a heavy sea? - No. 13374. Do you know about the practice in regard to providing glasses for look-out men. Is it usual on other ships? - No. I do not think it is. 13375. For the man in the crow’s-nest? - No. 13376. Were you on the “Oceanic”? - Yes. 13377. Were glasses provided there? - Yes. 13378. Is it usual to station look-out men in the ships you have experience of in the bows? - Yes. 13379. As well as in the crow’s-nest? - Yes. 13380. (The Commissioner.) Always in foggy weather or hazy weather. 13381. (Mr. Scanlan.) Is it usual when there is ice about? - No. Examined by Mr. ROCHE. 13382. The occasions you are speaking of when you like to have eight or ten men are when you are going away on an accident boat for some special service? - Yes, to the rescue. 13383. On this occasion, when the ship is being emptied as far as possible of passengers and other people, you had stewards on board your boat? - Yes. 13384. And firemen? - No. 13385. If you take eight or ten able seamen you will have, as my Lord has pointed out, so much less room for passengers and, of course, other persons, such as stewards or firemen? - Yes. 13386. For ordinary purposes, that is to say, for rowing a boat and so forth, the stewards and firemen take their turn at the oars with the other men? - Yes. 13387. And you find them quite competent for that purpose? - Yes, some of them. Examined by Mr. LEWIS. 13388. How do you account for not knowing the number of your boat? - I had to go on duty on the morning of the 18th, and I went off to my station on the poop and we did not have any boat muster, and I did not take any notice on the list of the number of my boat. I did not go to the forecastle to find out. The list was in the forecastle. 13389. It is rather an important position for a quartermaster, is it not? - Yes. 13390. And you would be expected to know your number even more than an A.B., would you not? - No, not more.